“Apparently, the cargo lashings were untied causing the vessel to lose balance. The captain tried to regain control but it was too late. At around 6 a.m., the skipper ordered the ship to be abandoned after asking help from nearby vessels,” he said in a phone interview.

A total of 42 survivors on board M/V Pilipinas Cebu were brought to the Iloilo City domestic port while M/T Fil-Visayas ferried 92 other survivors to Bacolod City. The remaining 28 victims were brought by the Bantay Dagat team to barangay Culasi, also in Ajuy.

Enough lead time

“The crew had enough time to ask for help and evacuate the passengers,” Mr. Ybañez said.

PCG-Western Visayas also deployed two search and rescue ships -- BRP Corregidor and BRP Edsa 2 -- from Masbate island and a chopper to Ajuy to monitor signs of oil spill.

“Fuel from the ship’s tanks will not immediately leak from the engine but we are more concerned with used oil in the engine room. BRP Edsa 2 has marine pollution equipment which can be used to contain oil spill should it occur,” Mr. Ybañez said.

It was the second see incident for Trans-Asia, a Cebu-based shipping company.